Glory notch strong win over Jets

Perth Glory recorded just their second win of the A-League season with a well-deserved 3-0 victory over the Jets in the round six clash at Newcastle on Friday night.

In a commanding display, the Glory were a class above the bottom-placed Jets, who struggled for rhythm in attack and wasted their shots in front of goal.

Stuart Young bagged a double as Perth made the most of their opportunities, showing cooler heads in front of goal to end a two-game losing streak.

In a tough start to the contest, neither side was able to get on the board in the opening 40 minutes and they looked likely to go into the break with scores locked up.

But Perth opened the scoring in the 44th minute after a shot on goal from Bobby Despotovski took a massive deflection and found an unmarked Stuart Young inside the box.

Young took the ball on the way down and struck a cracking shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Mark Bridge, who has already scored two goals from difficult positions this season, should have struck back for the Jets shortly before half-time but sprayed his shot wide of the left post after being put into space by a neat pass from Nick Carle.

The second half started promisingly for both sides with several opportunities on goal and a lot of run in the midfield.

Young missed a sitter in the 63rd minute that would have put the result beyond doubt, skying a shot from the edge of the goal box well above the bar with not a defender in sight.

Jason Petkovic made a one-handed diving save with just over 15 minutes left to keep Perth's lead intact, getting just enough on a left-footed strike from Tolgay Ozbey to send the ball wide of the net.

A poor first touch from Leo Bertos contributed to another wasted chance for Perth in front of goal, while a Jamie Harnwell header was only just kept out in the 82nd minute with a desperate save on the goal line from Jets substitute Steve Eagleton.

But just a minute later Harnwell nodded in from a corner, outjumping Jade North on the edge of the goal box to seal the much-needed victory.

In the final minutes, Leo Bertos had a long-range free kick just hit the post and roll out, before Young grabbed his second of the match with a regulation tap-in after some good work from Bertos up forward.

Perth now join Adelaide in fourth position on the competition ladder with two wins and a draw, while the Jets remain winless this season and stay firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.